Don't let be become like flower, I have to live in thorns: PM Modi

Gangtok: "Don't let me become delicate like a flower. I have lived among the thorns, I will continue to live among the thorns." This is what Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here today while addressing

Gangtok: "Don't let me become delicate like a flower. I have lived among the thorns, I will continue to live among the thorns." This is what Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here today while addressing a conference of Agriculture Ministers of states here.

He made the comment when the issue of naming three orchid species developed in Sikkim. They were named as 'Cymbidium Sardar' (after Sardar Patel), 'Cymbidium Deen Dayal (after Deen Dayal Upadhyay) and 'Cymbidium Namo' (after the Prime Minister).

He said Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling had requested him to name two orchid species while he would name the third one.

"(The names I gave were one 'Sardar' in the memory of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, the second Deen Dayal because of his birth centenary. But the CM gave some other name (NAMO). I thank the Sikkim government for bestowing such an honour on me)."

Using the occasion, he took a dig at the previous governments, saying, "in the 20th century, one Prime Minister had spent a night here (in Gangtok) and in the 21st century, I have come to stay here for a night."